i have the new kit-it works very well-i am using doubles- the new eliminator blades on bottom and a standard gator blade on top and it grinds leaves into dust-i also made some flaps that hang down off the front of the advantage deck to reduce blowout-the flaps are made from aluminum door sweeps with rubber flaps.

Mr Ziffel: I responded to your last post stating that the Advantage deck clogs up pretty good when cutting in wet heavy grass. I believe it's due to the bolts underneath as well as all the baffling. It gets so clogged that it packs the deck completely down to where the blades are. Also I have found that the advantage deck gets quite a build-up underneath the deck cover (where the belts are). I understand that some will build up there, but I never have as much on my conventional as with my Advantage. It builds up so much under there that the belts are spinning thru it.

Hope this helps.

P.S. I have the 52" Advantage deck on the hydreo walk-behind...I would think the deck designs would be the same as a ZTR

Thanks Scraper, just the info I'm looking for! In case anyone is wondering, which I do myself sometimes, I can use this information NOT to make a decision, but to know WHAT to look for.

I would never buy a mower without demoing it and I tell the dealer that up front -- no demo, I'm down the road. What I'm doing now is looking at comments, making notes and then when it's demo time I can say. AHA, Scraper was right, or OH, this one isn't having that problem in these conditions.

NO, there is no bracket too hold them in the + position. Just put them on and torque them down as you ussually would and they will rarely slide out of the + position unless you gut something solid. Many are using a gator on top and a high lift on the bottom to cut thick grass.... for leaves the gators work best.